Alcohol abuse continues to be misunderstood as a moral failure or character flaw, when in reality it is a brain disease that causes painful symptoms for the person affected and their loved ones. By raising awareness about alcohol abuse, we can help others be more likely to catch the signs and seek support when it’s needed.

What are the physical and psychological signs of alcohol addiction?

Alcohol is in a unique position compared with other addictive substances because using it, at least to some extent, is so normalized in our society. Many people who use illicit (“hard”) drugs are at least partially aware that they may have a problem with addiction, but most people who drink alcohol are not addicted.

When someone has an addiction to alcohol, they may be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. In everyday terms, this disorder is sometimes called “alcoholism.”

It’s important to be aware of the warning signs of alcohol addiction so that you can be ready to seek, or offer, support for yourself or loved ones.

Alcohol use disorder can manifest both physically and psychologically.

Some psychological and behavioral signs of alcohol addiction include:

• You crave and think about alcohol when you’re not drinking.
• You find it difficult to control how much you drink.
• You keep drinking even though it’s causing problems in your life.
• Your mind is often preoccupied with thoughts of drinking.
• You drink alone, or hide or lie about your drinking from others.
• You neglect your responsibilities because of drinking.
• Your relationships are strained due to your alcohol use, and your loved ones have told you that they’re concerned.
• You’ve tried to quit or cut down on drinking but have been unsuccessful.
• You experience mood swings or irritability when not drinking.
• You experience legal issues related to your drinking, such as DUIs.
• You engage in risky behaviors while intoxicated, such as driving under the influence or unprotected sex.
• You experience physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating, or nausea when not drinking.
• You prioritize drinking over other activities or hobbies.
• You experience financial problems due to spending money on alcohol.
• You feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking but continue to do so.
• You experience changes in your appearance or hygiene due to alcohol use.
• You find it hard to relax or have fun without alcohol.
• You turn to drinking to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression.

Alcohol addiction, especially when it’s severe, can also have some physical effects. Physical signs of alcohol addiction may include:

• You may notice changes in your appearance, like gaining or losing weight.
• You might experience tremors or shakes, especially in the morning.
• You notice you have a red or puffy face due to flushed or broken capillaries.
• You might feel chronically fatigued or lethargic.
• You could suffer from gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• You may experience liver-related symptoms like jaundice or abdominal pain.
• You might have an increased tolerance to alcohol.
• You could experience withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, rapid heartbeat, or anxiety when not drinking.
• Long-term effects on your body could include liver disease, pancreatitis, or cardiovascular problems.

Not everyone with an alcohol problem experiences these signs. Even if you don’t experience these things, that doesn’t necessarily mean you do not have alcohol use disorder. The only way to know for sure is to talk to a mental health provider or your primary care physician.

Signs of substance abuse at work

Even though things have changed in recent years, alcohol continues to play an important role in many workplaces (for example, employees may drink at holiday parties or during happy hour gatherings). This can make it difficult to be able to tell when an employee has an alcohol abuse problem and when their drinking is within “normal” limits.

Some signs that someone at work has alcohol use disorder include:

• They’re frequently absent or tardy, especially when they didn’t used to have these problems.
• Their job performance or productivity has noticeably declined.
• You detect the smell of alcohol on their breath or notice other physical signs of intoxication.
• They exhibit mood swings or changes in behavior, such as irritability or aggression.
• They tend to isolate themselves from coworkers or avoid social interactions.
• They make frequent trips to the restroom, possibly to hide drinking.
• They seem to struggle with concentration or decision-making.
• They experience financial difficulties or borrow money from coworkers.
• Their appearance has changed, such as unkempt attire or poor hygiene.
• They make excuses for their behavior or deny any alcohol-related issues when confronted.

How to get help for alcohol addiction

If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing a problem with alcohol, the importance of seeking professional treatment can’t be stressed enough. Alcohol use disorder is a brain disease that can get worse when left untreated.

Seeking support is nothing to be ashamed of. Again, alcohol abuse is not a moral failure and says nothing about your character. It is a serious health condition that affects over 10% of the population.

It’s normal for people with alcohol use disorder to be ambivalent about getting treatment. Part of you may want badly to stop your problem drinking, but you likely also have personal reasons why you drink, to begin with – it helps you in social situations, it helps you to sleep, and so on. This is normal, and treatment providers expect ambivalence. You do not have to be 100% sure to seek help. You only need to take the first step.

Ambivalence also means that you may experience pushback from your loved one. Although this can be incredibly painful, try to understand that it’s normal and a symptom of the way alcohol addiction affects the brain. Offer steady support without disrespecting their autonomy.

You can look for a treatment provider by calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Does my employee assistance program (EAP) cover substance abuse?

Your EAP is also a free resource at your disposal. The MINES & Associates EAP can offer you 24/7 free and confidential counseling and resource referral for alcohol use disorder. If your company is enrolled, then you just need to call (800) 873-7138 or use our digital intake form to get started.

To Your Well-Being,

The MINES Team

The post Alcohol Awareness Month: How to Recognize the Signs and Get the Support You Need appeared first on MINES and Associates.

This week alone, I had client organizations call about each of these concerns.  In one case a senior executive was observed to drink one bottle of wine at a company function, plus cocktails before dinner. Her behavior became problematic when she propositioned a male colleague, angrily denied she had drank too much and proceeded to accuse others on her executive team of “being out to get her.”  To make this situation even sadder, the executive had done something similar three years earlier at the same company function.  This became a performance issue at a number of levels.  First, upon investigation, it turned out she had a number of days in the last few months where her secretary reported she left early for lunch and never returned resulting in significant loss of individual productivity. Second, she created liability for her company when she propositioned a colleague. This created a potentially hostile work environment/sexual harassment lawsuit. In addition, there was lost time for human resources, management, and legal to review the situation and interview all parties. Third, when confronted with her behavior and the company’s requirement to go to the employee assistance program for an evaluation and potential referral for treatment if indicated, she refused and resigned. This resulted in additional loss of intellectual capital and the personal long term health costs to her. This reminder for everyone in supervisor, management, or executive functions is that alcohol and other substance use disorders have not diminished despite policies, procedures,’ and education interventions. It is important to stay alert to your employees’ and colleagues’ behavior and act in a timely and compassionate manner similar to the company discussed in this paragraph.

The research on sleep deprivation is well documented. Sleep deprived individuals do not function well cognitively and their reaction times are diminished. This finding was significant enough for one researcher to say that sleep deprived drivers were more dangerous than alcohol impaired drivers. What are the costs to your organization related to sleep deprivation? We know that individuals who are sleep deprived eat more, make poorer food and exercise decisions, are more irritable with others, and make poor decisions. Many companies recognize the dangers of sleep deprivation and provide nap rooms, meditation classes, and other options so that employees can refresh themselves and perform better at work.

Obesity, wellness, and financial impact discussions are ubiquitous on the internet and in the professional literature. Our workforces are getting fatter and fatter. Recent research suggested that obesity not only has downstream health costs for the employer, there is some evidence that cognitive functions can be influenced as well. This research needs to be replicated. Then there is the subgroup of morbidly obese individuals who also have co-morbid depression. Depression affects performance in terms of diminished problem solving skills, concentration problems, social withdrawal, lowered energy which is compounded by the lower energy associated with morbid obesity, as well as other symptoms such as memory impairment. Any of these symptoms will negatively affect performance in most jobs. As an employer it will become an even heavier burden going forward to manage the workforce as the obesity incidence continues to grow. What is becoming more apparent is that the typical wellness program is unsuccessful in helping the morbidly obese. A major component that is missing is the psychological aspects of performance related to weight loss and weight gain. The research in this area has been well established for over 25 years.  Coors Brewing in 1988 was one of the first companies to incorporate an intensive outpatient obesity program as part of its wellness program. It was a highly successful program. Unfortunately during that time there were many fasting programs and one of the unintended side effects of these programs was an increase in gall bladder surgeries and the corresponding cost. Due to a variety of factors beyond the scope of this blog, all weight loss programs were discontinued a few years later. There are best practice examples of successful interventions with the morbidly obese employee population which apply the psychological elements needed to lose and sustain weight loss.

Contact us if you would like to learn more:

info@minesandassociates.com

Have a day filled with loving kindness and compassion,

Bob

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D., CEO & Psychologist

The post Psychology of Performance – 41: Impact of Alcohol, Sleep, and Obesity appeared first on MINES and Associates.

I had the privilege and honor of facilitating a discussion group for Adult Type I diabetics. Some of them had been managing their diabetes for over 50 years. One member said, “I am so tired of shots and blood tests 4-5 times a day, I just don’t care anymore.” The member went on to say that her sugar levels were elevated on her A1C tests, were rising, and she was resigned.  This is a good example of a subtle, yet eventually serious, psychological impact issue related to her health and wellbeing.

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with a chronic illness, please pay attention to how they think about their illness as the psychological consequences, as well as the health and final consequences, can be overwhelming if they are not managed well. Depression and anxiety negatively affect health outcomes in most chronic illnesses.  A qualified mental health professional can be a very useful resource under these circumstances.

Exchange love and happiness with all those you meet today,

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D.,
CEO and Psychologist

The post Psychology of Performance – 40: Management of Chronic Illness appeared first on MINES and Associates.

The evidence is clear that individuals do not perform most tasks or think clearly when impaired. Employers already have the right to drug test their employees and are required by law to provide a safe work environment. Just because alcohol has been legal does not mean that employees are entitled to drink at work or come to work under the influence of alcohol. The precedents are already in place and should also apply to marijuana. The rest of the story for marijuana users is that even recreational use will show up for a month in random or “for cause” drug testing. So until impairment levels can be defined by the enforcement side of these laws, it would be prudent for those individuals inclined to use marijuana to continue to refrain from such usage. Bottom line, both alcohol and marijuana will impair performance despite stories such as the one in the movie “Flight.”

Remember to exchange love and happiness with everyone you meet.

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D.,
CEO, and Psychologist

The post Psychology of Performance – 39: Legalization of Marijuana appeared first on MINES and Associates.